Thread placer for weft replenishing looms



Dec. 7, 1943. R G. TURNER THREAD PLACER FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS 3 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1945 INVENI'QR RmHARo QTURNER AT-ronN EY Dec. 7? 1943. IRjG. TURNER THREAD PLACER FOR WEFT rRELENISHIIKI LOOMS Filed Jan. 11, 1943 invern-0R R lcv-Ano (-k TUR NE R ATToRNeY Dec. 7, 1943. R. G. TURNER THREAD PLACER FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed Jan. 1l, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INvsN-NR mm M O wn/ T. MQAWA H v w vnu Patented Dec. 7, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE THREAD PLACER FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Application January 11, 1943, Serial No. 471,944

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in weft replenishing looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide improved means to place the thread of the outgoing bobbin for effective removal.

When a depleted bobbin is removed from the shuttle on a replenishing beat of the loom a thread extends from it to the adjacent selvage. Unless ths thread is removed it is likely to be drawn into the warp shed to produce an imperfection in the cloth. I have heretofore proposed pneumatic mechanism for removing this thread including a cutter in the shuttle box and a tube having an intake mouth to receive the thread. The pneumatic tube heretofore used has been lowered from a normal raised position to a thread receiving position at the time of replenishment. It is an important object of my present invention to hold the thread remover stationary and provide a normally depressed thread placer which is elevated on replenishing beats of the loom to lift the thread to the intake mouth of the remover.

Weft replenishing mechanisms generally employ a pivoted transferrer arm which moves a reserve bobbin from the magazine into the depleted shuttle by downward motion. It is another object of my present invention to provide a thread placer control mechanism which will be moved from a normal idle position to a working position by a force derived from the transferrer arm. The thread placer is thus raised as the lay approaches its forward position after the thread has moved to a position forward of the intake mouth.

It is another object of my present invention to provide resetting mechanism including a part preferably operated by the lay while the latter is in the forward part of its motion to reset the thread placing mechanism prior to the pick which immediately follows replenishment. In this way the thread placer is returned to a position below the thread extending from the thread holder to the fresh bobbin in the shuttle and will not interfere with removal of this thread when it is eventually cut at the selvage.

It is a still further object of my present invention to provide a thread placer controlled by a a spring lock which is held yieldingly in either of two eXtreme positions from one of which it is moved by the transfer mechanism for the purpose of elevating the thread and from the other position of which it is returned to normal position by a connection from the lay,

VWith these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, parts in section, of one type of loom to which my invention can be applied,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the structure shown in the upper part of Fig. 1 as viewed from the center of the loom,

Fig. 3 is a plan View in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 1 showing the thread holder, the shuttle and shuttle box, my improved thread placer and temple cutter,

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing the lay in different positions and the relation between .the thread to be removed and my improved thread placer,

Fig. '7 is a structural view on an enlarged scale of the yielding lock mechanism shown in Fig. 2 and employed in connection with the thread placer, the parts being shown in mid position between the extreme positions thereof, and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the `thread placer in raised position. Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I have shown a loom frame IIJ having top and bottom shafts II and I 2, respectively, which rotate in the usual 2 to 1 ratio, the top shaft rotating each pick of the loom and the bottom shaft requiring two picks for a rotation. Connectors I3 are the means by which the top shaft II drives the lay L in a back and forth direction once for each pick of the loom. The lay is provided with a shuttle box I4 which receives a shuttle S containing a bobbin B. The shuttle box includes a binder I5 slotted as at I6 to receive a thread cutter I1 which is normally forward out of cutting position but moves rearwardly on replenishing beats of the loom to engage a plate I8 on the 'front shuttle wall to cut the thread T extending from the shuttle to the adjacent selvage. A teme ple cutter I9 of usual formis located at the selvage and outs the threads extending from the selvage toward the shuttle box at some time in vthe cycle of the loom operations subsequent to transfer.

The magazine M is shown in the present instance as being of the rocking type and is provided with reserve bobbins R from which weft ends W extend to a pneumatic thread holder H. The bobbing descend by gravity to transfer position in the lower part of the magazine and are inserted into the shuttle S Whenthe latter is depleted of weft by a transferrer arm 29 pivoted as at 2| to the loom frame and having depending therefrom a normally down transfer latch 22. A bunter 23 on the lay normally traverses a path above the latch 22 but when the latch is raised the bunter moves the latch forwardly to turn the transferrer arm in a. clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 to transfer a bobbin from the magazine into the shuttle.

Any approved mechanism can be used with my invention for raising latch 22 to cause operation of the transferrer arm 29, but I show hereina type of mechanism which is used in loomswhich weave ne fabrics. This mechanism includes a cam 25 on the bottom shaft to rock an actuator lever 26 pivo-ted on a stationary stud 27. The forward or left end of lever 26 as viewed in Fig. 1 is provided with a dog 28 which normally rises every second pick of the loom at one side of Va lifting shelf 29 on a normally stationary lever `3|). The latter is also pivoted on stud 27 and has the forward end thereof attached to an upright rod 3| pivoted as at 32 to a rocking head r33 turning about a fixed stud 34. The head is provided with a latch setter y35 and a shuttle feeler36. Spring 37 normally holds the forward or left end of lever 39, see Fig. 1, in down position so that the latch lifter 35 is under the .latch `and the latter can occupy its normal down position.

The loomis provided with a weft detector D of the electrical type which as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 is connected to a solenoid 38 which controls mechanism designated generally at 39 for determining when the dog 28 shall engage the shelf 29. When the detector indicates exhaustion mechanism 39 is set to cause dog 28 to raise shelf 29 and rod '3| during the next up motion of the dog.

Fixed to the loom frame is an air pump 49 operated by a connector 4| attached to the lay Vand to a rocking lever A42 moving about a fixed .pivot 43. The upper end of lever 42 is attached to piston rod 44 of a piston 45 which reciprocates within the air pump. A pneumatic tube 46 leads forwardly from the pump to an air chamber and thread accumulator 47, the interior of which is connected to the thread holder I-I and also -to a flexible tube 48 which leads toward the center of the loom.

In the operation of the mechanism thus far .described the shuttle enters box I4 as the lay is advancing on alternate beats of the loom. As the `lay approaches front center, or its Yextreme left pcsition as viewed in Fig. l, the detector D determines a condition of weft in the shuttle. The vlay then .starts to 4move rearwardly and .the shuttle is picked by well-known mechanism not shown in the drawings when the lay .has reached approximately the mid point of its rearward stroke. During the backward stroke of .the lay the air pump creates a partialyacuum Vin the air chamber 4.7 to induce Va draft of air .into the thread holder .H and .along the `interior of the tube 48 toward the air chamber. When weft exhaustion occurs the detector causes energization of solenoid '38 and as the forward end of 1ever 36 subsequently arises the dog 28 engages the lever 29 to lift the lever 30, whereupon the lifter 35 raises the latch 22 into the path of the lay bunter 23 and also moves vthe shuttle feeler 35 rearwardly. The magazine is thus set for a replenishing operation while the lay is advancing and as it approaches front center the transferrer arm 20 is depressed .as already described. At or about the same time the thread cutter |7 cuts the thread T and that part of this thread connected to the bobbin follows the latter into the bobbin can, but that portion of it extending toward the cloth can be whipped into the walp shed unless provision is made for its removal.

The matter thus far described operates in the usual manner and for a further description reference may be had to the following patents: 1,881,920, 2,054,192, 2,199,296, 2,199,353, 2,199,354.

It is to be understood that I am not limited in Y the practice of my invention to the specific replenishing mechanism shown in Fig. 1. It will suffice for the operation of my invention if a transferrer arm 20 is depressed as the lay advances on a replenishing beat.

In carrying my present invention into effect I connect the flexible tube 48 to a metallic tube 50 connected by means of a 1in 5| to a supporting rod 52. Secured to the stud 2| is a bracket 55 having front and back ears 56 and 57, respectively, through which the forward end of the rod 52 slides. A collar 58 fixed to the rod 52 between the ears receives the rearward thrust of a compression spring 59 which serves normally to hold the tube 50 in rear position but permits the latter to be advanced if struck by an improperly positioned shuttle. The lower end of the tube 50 has an opening which defines an intake mouth 60 and a lip 6| extends downwardly from the rear part of the tube 50 and is -then bent forwardly and extends upwardly as suggested in Fig. 2. The lip is formed with a downwardly opening notch 6.2 Vlocated between the sides .of the mouth 60. Y

The bracket .55 is the support on which I mount the control mechanism for the thread placer. A depending arm of .the bracket carries a stud 56 on which is vpivotally mounted a lever 67 having a .hub .68 in which is secured a rearwardly extending thread placer 70. This placer .is preferably a rigid .rod which -in normal position enters a transverse slot 7| located in the lay under the path of the shuttle. The upper end of lever 67 is formed with a slot 75 which receives a swiveled 'block 79 mounted for rotation on .a second lever 77. A compression spring 78 located in the lower part of slot .7.5 exerts `an upward force on the block 76.

The lever 77 is pivoted on a stud 80 secured to the upper part of the bracket 55 as shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 7. Lever 77 has a rearwardly extending arm .8| provided with a .lateral fin 82 perforated as at 83 to receive the upper reduced end 84 of a rod 85. The lower end of rod 85 is pivoted as at 86 to a lever 87 secured to the rocker shaft 88 of .the lay `and to `which the latter .is secured. Rod 85 therefore rises and falls Yas the lay moves backwardly and forwardly and the reduced ,end 84 is always located in the opening 83 Yto position `and guide the upper end of .the rod.

The transferrer arm is provided with alaterally extending stud 90 secured thereto in any approved manner and projecting over the arm 8| of lever 77. This stud 90 is preferably located intermediate the stud 2| and the bobbin engaging shoe 92 on the transferrer arm and the stud descends when the transferrer arm is having a downward transfer stroke and rises when the transferrer arm is returned to its normal raised position by the usual torsion spring 93 surrounding the stud 2|.

By referring to Figs. 4, 5 .and 6 the relationship between the shuttle, the thread .connected to the depleted bobbin and the thread placer 'IU will be understood. Fig. 4 shows the lay on front center position with the front wall of the shuttle in advance of the fell F of the cloth so that the thread T is diagonally disposed and extends forwardly and to the right from the cloth to the front wall of the shuttle and then along the latter and across plate I8 to the shuttle eye E. Transfer occurs and the thread is cut by cutter I1 when the parts are as shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 shows the position of the parts after transfer has been completed and the lay has started to move rearwardly but has not yet reached picking position. Fig. 6 shows the lay L approximately in mid position and moving rearwardly and indicates that the shuttle is being picked to the opposite side of the loom and moving in the direction of arrow a.

In the operation of my invention the parts will normally be in the position shown in Fig. 2 with arm 8l raised and with lever 61 held yieldingly in rear position by spring 18 against a stop screw 95 on the bracket 55. The rod 'I0 is therefore located in the groove 'II below the path of the shuttle and the thread T. The parts remain in this position until replenishment occurs, whereupon descent of transferrer arm 20 causes the stud 9S to engage and depress arm 8l, thereby moving the swivel block to the right and causing a rocking of lever 61 in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. '7 in which the centers B6, 'I6 and 8U are aligned. This alignment is momentary and occurs shortly before the transferrer arm reaches its lowest position and as it continues downwardly the swivel block moves to the right from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8. A second stop screw 96 on the bracket 55 limits right hand motion of the lever 61 under the action of spring I8. The thread placing rod 10 is therefore raised to lift the thread T when the latter is approximately in the position indicated in Fig. 4. As the rod 'I0 rises it enters the notch 62 in the lip 6I. It will be understood from Fig. 1 that rod 85 will be in its extreme down position when transfer is completed and will therefore not interfere with the descent of arm 8i.

As the lay starts to move back the thread T, still held between the binder and the front wall of the shuttle, will travel rearwardly along the temporarily raised rod I0 toward the intake mouth and at the same time shoulder 99 of rod 85 will start up toward the lowered n 82. Due to backward movement of the lay the thread will move to the position shown in Fig. 5 while rod 'I0 is still raised and will enter the trap formed by the lip 6l immediately in front of the intake mouth. After the thread is thus trapped the shoulder S9 will engage n 82 to rock lever 'il in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig, 2 from the position of Fig. 8 through the position of Fig. 7 back to the reset position of Fig. 2. The accompanying downward movement of rod lil, therefore, begins after the thread is trapped and before the shuttle is picked. As the shuttle leaves the box I4 the right hand end of thread T will be released and will be immediately drawn into tube 5) as suggested by dotted lines in Fig. 6 by pneumatic attraction, and as the shuttle moves to the opposite side of the loom it will travel over the rod 'Iii which by this time is located in slot 1I. The thread T now extends from the intake mouth 69 to the selvage and on a subsequent pick the temple cutter I9 will sever the left end of the thread as viewed for instance in Fig. 6, whereupon the entire thread will be drawn along the tube 48 to the thread accumulator 41.. During the picking of the shuttle its thread T of the new bobbin passes over rod 10, and can therefore be removed by the pneumatic holder H when later cut at the selvage.

The levers B1 and 'I1 move to their reset position comparatively early in the rise of rod 85, but the parts are so proportioned and stop screw 95 is so located as to permit a sufficient upward motion of arm BI to enable the shoulder 9S of rod 35 to rise to its highest position without engaging the n 82.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple controller for the thread placer or" a weft replenishing loom comprising a pair of spring lock levers one of which carries the thread placer and the other of which is given actuating motions first by the transferrer arm and then by the resetting rod B5. It will be seen that the levers 31 and Tl are held in two yieldingly locked positions from either of which they can be moved to the other position, one of these positions corresponding to the normal down position of the thread placer 'i0 and the other corresponding to its raised operating position wherein it is effective to locate the thread adjacent to the intake mouth 60. It will also be noted that the thread placer, its controlling parts, and the tube 50 all have a common mounting so that their adjustments can be easily maintained. Furthermore, it will be seen that the downward motion of the actuator stud Si@ occurs when the rod is in lowest position while the rod attains its high position only when the lay is in its extreme back position after the transferrer arm raises stud 9h out of the path of arm 8 I Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

l. In thread placing mechanism for weft replenishing looms having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends to the adjacent selvage, the loom having a transferrer arm which has an operating stroke to' replenish the shuttle, apneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth into which a draft of air moves to attract the thread, a thread placer normally under the path traversed by the shuttle, a spring lock mechanism operatively 4connected to said placer and movable to either of two extreme positions and operative when in one extreme position to hold said placer in the normal position thereof and operative when in the other extreme position to hold said placer adjacent to said mouth, means actuated by the transferrer arm to move said spring lock from said one extreme position thereof to the other extreme position thereof to eiect raising of the placer to lift the thread toward said mouth, and resetting means operated by the lay and operative to move said spring lock from said other extreme position back to said one extreme position to lower the placer to normal position.

2. In thread placing mechanism for weft replenishing looms having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends to the adjacent selvage, the loom having a transferrer arm which has an operating stroke to replenish the shuttle after which the shuttle is picked, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth into which a :bers operatively connected by a spring tending ,to move said members either to one or the other of two extreme positions, stops for the members to hold the latter in their extreme positions, a thread placer connected to one of said members and normally below the path traversed by the shuttle when said members are in one extreme position, means actuated by the transferrer arm to move said members from said one extreme Aposition to the other extreme position and cause said one member to raise said placer when the Vlay is in the forward part of the stroke thereof to lift the thread toward the intake mouth, and resetting mechanism operated by the lay prior to the picking of the replenished shuttle to engage one of said members and return the latter vfrom said other extreme position to said one extreme position to locate the placer under the path yof the shuttle.

3. In thread placing mechanism for weft replenishing looms having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle for which a thread extends to the adjacent selvage, the loom having a transferrer arm which has an operating stroke to replenish the shuttle after which the shuttle is picked, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth into which a draft of air moves to attract the thread, a thread placer normally located under the path traversed by the shuttle, a yielding lock mechanism operatively connected to the placer controlling the position of the latter and including two levers operatively connected by a spring and stops for the levers to hold the latter yieldingly in two extreme positions, means operated by the transferrer arm on a replenishing beat of the loom to move said levers from one extreme position corresponding to the normal position of said placer to the other extreme position to raise the thread placer and cause the latter to move the thread toward said mouth, and other means operated by the lay to move said levers from said other extreme position back to said one extreme position and lower the placer to normal position thereof prior to picking of the replenished shuttle.

4. In thread placing mechanism for weft replenishing looms having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends diagonally and rearwardly to the adjacent selvage when the lay is in the forward 'part of the stroke thereof, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth located rearwardly of the thread when the lay is in forward position and into which a draft of air moves to attract the thread, a thread placer normally below the path traversed by the shuttle and located under the thread, a spring lock operatively connected to the thread placer to hold the latter in normal position and movable from one eXtreme position corresponding to the normal position of the placer to a second extreme position corresponding to a raised position of the placer adjacent to said mouth, a member having an operative movement on weft replenishing beats of the loom when the lay is in the forward lpart of the stroke thereof, operative connections between said member and the spring lock effective to move the latter from said one extreme position to said second extreme position thereof when the member has an operating motion 4to lift the placer and cause the latter to move the thread toward the intake mouth, and means vdraft of airmoves to attract the thread, a yield- -inglock comprising two relatively movablemem- Voperative during the ensuing backward stroke of the lay to cause said spring lock to move from said second extreme position back to said one extreme position to lower the placer to normal position thereof after the thread due to backward movement of the lay has reached said intake mouth.

5. In thread placing mechanism for weft replenishing looms having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends diagonally and rearwardly to the adjacent selvage when the lay is in the forward part of the stroke thereof, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth located rearwardly of the thread when the lay is in forward position and into which a draft of air moves to attract the thread, a thread hook on said thread remover extending downwardly from said mouth and forwardly and upwardly, a thread placer normally under the path traversed by the shuttle, a spring lock operatively connected to the placer and capable of assuming two positions one of which corresponds to the normal position of the placer and the second of which corresponds to a raised position of the placer adjacent to said hook, a member having an operating stroke on weft replenishing beats of the loom when the lay is in forward position, means operated by said member to move said spring lock from said one position thereof to said second position thereof to lift the placer to a position above the forward end of said hook when the thread is in front of said intake mouth due to forward movement of the lay, and resetting mechanism to move said spring lock from said second position thereof back to said rst position thereof to lower the placer to normal position after the thread due to backward movement of the lay is behind the forward end of said hook and adjacent to said intake mouth.

6. In thread placing mechanism for weft replenishing looms having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends diagonally and rearwardly to the adjacent selvage when the lay is in the forward part of the stroke thereof, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth located rearwardly of the thread when the lay is in forward position and into which a draft of air moves to attract the thread, a hook extending downwardly from said thread placer behind the mouth and then forwardly and upwardly, said hook having a downwardly opening notch therein, a thread placer normally below the path traversed by the shuttle, a spring lock operatively connected to the placer and capable of assuming two extreme positions one of which corresponds to the normal position of the placer and the other of which corresponds to a raised position of the placer adjacent to said mouth and hook, a transferrer arm operative on replenishing beats of the loom to move said spring lock from said one extreme position to said second extremeA position to cause said lock to move the placer upwardly from the normal position thereof into said notch to a position above the forward end of the hook to lift the thread toward the intake mouth when the thread due to forward movement of the lay is forward of said hook, and a resetter to move said spring lock from said second extreme position back to said first extreme position to lower the placer to normal position thereof after the thread due to backward movement of the lay passes to a position behind the forward end of said hook.

'7. In thread placing mechanism for weft replenishing looms having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends diagonally and rearwardly to the adjacent selvage when the lay is in the forward part of the stroke thereof, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth located rearwardly of the thread when the lay is in forward position and into which a draft of air moves to attract the thread, a thread placer comprising a substantially rigid rod normally located under the path traversed by the shuttle, a spring lock connected to and moving with said placer and capable of assumingv two positions, one of which corresponds to the normal down position of the placer and the other of which corresponds to a raised position of the placer adjacent to said intake mouth, a transferrer arm operative on a replenishing operation of the loom to cause said lock to move from said one position thereof to said second position thereof to raise the placer to move the thread to a position adjacent to said intake mouth, said spring lock effective to hold the thread placer in the raised position thereof during the first part of the backward movement of the lay following a replenishing operation of the loom, and a resetter for the spring lock to cause the latter to move from said second position thereof back to said one position thereof after the thread due to backward movement of the lay has moved along said placer to a position adjacent to said intake mouth, said spring lock thereafter maintaining the thread placer in normal down position.

8. In thread placing mechanism for weft replenishing looms having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a. thread extends diagonally and rearwardly to the adjacent selvage when the lay is in the forward part of the stroke thereof, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth located rearwardly of the thread when the lay is in forward position and into which a draft of air moves to attract the thread, a bracket supported by the loom frame, a pair of members pivoted to said bracket, a spring operatively connecting said members and eifective to hold the latter yieldingly in either of two extreme positions, a thread placer connected to one of said members and normally held below the path traversed by the shuttle by said spring when said members are in one of their extreme positions, bobbin transfer mechanism to shift said members to the other extreme position thereof to effect upward movement of the placer and cause the latter to lift the thread toward said intake mouth, a resetter for said members and placer operating during backward movement of the lay subsequent to a replenishing operation of the loom to move said members from said other extreme position back to said one extreme position thereof and effect downward movement of the placer to normal position thereof after the lay due to the backward movement thereof has moved the thread along said placer to a position adjacent to said mouth, and stops on said bracket to hold said members in their extreme positions.

9. In thread placing mechanism for weft replenishing looms having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends diagonally and rearwardly to the adjacent selvage when the lay is in the forward part of the stroke thereof, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth located rearwardly of the thread when the lay is in forward position and into which a draft of air moves to attract the thread, a bracket supported by the loom frame and supporting said thread remover, a spring lock supported by said bracket, a thread placer operatively connected to said spring lock, said spring lock movable to two extreme positions with respect to said bracket, the lock in one extreme position locating the placer in normal down position below the path traversed by the shuttle and the lock when in the other extreme position locating the placer adjacent said intake mouth, means operating on a replenishing beat of the loom to move said spring lock from said one extreme position to said other extreme position to lift the thread placer, and resetting means operative subsequent to a replenishing operation of the loom to move said spring lock from said other extreme position back to said one extreme position to return the thread placer to normal position.

10. A thread control unit for a weft replenishing loom having a weft thread to be removed incident to a replenishing operation of the loom, said unit comprising a bracket xed with respect to the loom frame, a pneumatic thread remover mounted on said bracket and having an intake mouth into which air moves to attract the thread, a spring lock mounted on said bracket and movable to either of two extreme positions with respect to the bracket, stop means on the bracket to hold said spring lock in either of said two extreme positions, and a thread placer connected to the spring lock and moved upwardly with respect to said bracket toward said thread remover by the spring lock when the latter moves from one of said extreme positions to the other extreme position thereof and moved downwardly with respect to said bracket by said lock when the latter moves from said other` extreme position back to said one extreme position thereof.

11. A thread control unit for a weft replenishing loom, said unit comprising a bracket having provision for attachment to the loom, a pneumatic thread remover slidably mounted on said bracket, a spring supported by said bracket normally holding the pneumatic remover in rearward normal position with respect to the bracket, a spring lock mounted on and movable with respect to the bracket from one extreme position to a second extreme position, a thread placer connected to said spring lock, and stop means on the bracket to hold said spring lock in either of said two extreme positions, the spring lock when in one position holding the thread placer below said pneumatic thread remover and when in the other position thereof holding said thread placer adjacent to said thread remover.

12. A thread control unit for a weft replenishing loom, said unit comprising a bracket having provision for attachment to the loom, a pneumatic thread remover slidably mounted on said bracket, a spring operatively interposed between said bracket and thread remover tending to hold the latter rearwardly in normal position with respect to the bracket, a pair of interconnected lock members pivotally mounted on the bracket. stop means on the bracket for said members, a spring operatively connecting said members and cooperating with said stop means to hold the member in either of two extreme positions, and a thread placer connected to one of said members and held thereby in a position below said thread remover when said members are in one extreme position thereof and held by said one member in a position adjacent to the thread remover when 6 assea said members are iny the other extreme position thereof.

13. In a thread control' unit for a weft replenishing loom, said unit comprising a bracket having provision for attachment to the loom, a pneumatic thread' remover mounted on said bracket and having an intake mouth, aspring look mounted on said bracket, stop means on said bracket to hold said spring lock in either of two extreme positions, and a thread'placer connected to said spring lock, said spring lock effectivev in one extreme position thereof to hold said thread placer spaced from the intake' mouth and eiective in the other position thereof to hold said thread placer adjacent to said intake mouth;

RICHARD G. TURNER. 

